Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…a fun way to sample new books and find new authors! (Also welcome to the Sunday Snippet visitors!)
May be edited a bit from published version.
I’m doing a few excerpts from HEIRESS OF THE NILE, my most recent ancient Egyptian paranormal romance.
The snippet – switching to the POV of Senebkai, the heroine’s 9 year old brother. This is the lead up to his encounter with Hathor. We’ll get to her next week.
Senebkai sat huddled in the small side chapel of Hathor’s temple, trying to stop crying. I’m too old to cry, aren’t I? But Mother was dying, no matter what Old Nurse said, and his sister Pebatma was selling the last of their possessions today to pay the landlord. He knew as well as she did there wouldn’t be enough deben and the landlord had been clear he’d take her for his own if there was a deficit.
And he, Senebkai, was supposed to tamely go and do his baker’s apprentice duties. A baker, of all things. What kind of training was that for one who burned to be a soldier? Whose father and grandfather had been warriors? Not only was baking an inglorious profession, it paid nothing, maybe an eighth of a deben each week and free—if stale—bread.
Senebkai paused to consider the lone fringe benefit as his stomach rumbled.
The book blurb: 1550 BCE – Forced by a vengeful Pharaoh to flee for her life and hide in the poorest section of Thebes, Lady Pebatma has scraped and struggled to support her ailing mother and young brother for the past two years. Now, out of funds with the rent to pay and no possessions left to sell, she begs the goddess Hathor for help. With a new pharaoh taking the throne, surely something can be done…
A powerful general in command of the army and best friend to Pharaoh, Marnamaret has everything a nobleman in Egypt could desire…except for true love. He refuses to settle for less. On a whim, he prays to Hathor to send him the woman of his dreams.Will the goddess answer these heartfelt petitions? And if she does, will Shai the god of Fate allow the course of two lives to be changed by love? For none can deny Fate….
Author’s Note: This is a connected series. Heiress of the Nile can be read as a standalone. Although it’s my newest novel, the story falls between Priestess and Warrior timewise and is set in the early days of this Pharaoh’s reign.
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A fun TikTok video I did for MAGIC OF THE NILE is here. If you’re on TikTok I’m happy to Follow you! I’m @veronicascottauthor…
All books in the series are Available at all major ebook sellers…
I like how you’ve written him. At nine, he may be still a child, but he’s well aware of how a lot of things work. Well done!
You’ve got me wondering what he’s going to do. He seems to be leaning toward accepting his and his sister’s fate . . . but then again, he yearns to be a soldier, which implies the possibility of a more active reaction.
They are in such dire straits. I feel so bad for him–and for his sister. That landlord is a piece of work!
A lot of mature thoughts for a 9 YO.
People grew up fast back then…
Thanks for taking time to stop by and comment!
To have to be so grown up at nine. Sad.
Tweeted.
This young man is in a rough spot.
So fitting – he’s so desperately miserable that he’s cheered by the idea of eating stale bread.
I feel for him and his sister. So sad that stale bread seems like a good thing. I’m intrigued to know more.
His sister’s plight may be the thing that pushes him to leave his apprenticeship and seek the life of a soldier, although at 9 he’d be relegated to menial tasks most likely. But it could pay more. Such sad circumstances for them.
That’s an awful place to be in. I hope he’s able to find a better life sooner rather than later.
The goddess Hathor did promise the General today was the day life would change….
I feel so sorry for the boy and his sister. I hope the goddess will help.
Poor Senebkai. Wanting (and being forced) to be grown up, but inside he’s still a scared kid.
I feel so bad for him. I hope his life takes a turn for the better soon.